An international team of freelance wordsmiths

#MyDeskView: Alexandr Ababii, Freelance Presentation Designer

It only has essential things, like my laptop and headphones and some other little things for inspiration. As a freelancer, you don’t need much to start working. I love my almost bezel-less laptop, it stands out even if you have a MacBook Pro. 🙂

What kind of freelance work do you do, and what made you decide to do it?

I’m not doing any freelance jobs at the moment, but I was designing presentations for an expat website. It was interesting to read articles about expat life, being an expat myself. I decided to do this as my previous job didn’t bring me enough money for extra life comforts.

When did you start freelancing, and what were the biggest changes you had to make?

I started to do it when I arrived in the UK, two years ago. I think the biggest challenge was to push myself to do the job. When you’re a freelancer no one is telling you to do it because you don’t have the same contract, but you are doing it because you like it or have to survive.

Is your freelance job a 9-to-5? How do you structure your time?

I didn’t have any specific structure; essentially I was working when I had time, after my full-time job.

What do you enjoy the most about the freelance way of life?

I would say the best thing about being a freelancer is being flexible with your workplace and working hours.

What do you find the hardest about the work you do or freelance life in general?

The flexibility of freelancing comes without stability. Usually, you have a project which you’re leading, but if you finish it or someone decides to stop it, you need to search for something else.

What piece of work are you most proud of?

A long time ago I was designing icons for a website, and these are still the things I’m most proud of.

What measures do you take to ensure your physical and mental health don’t suffer?

I go to the gym and play tennis sometimes. Even five minutes away from the computer can make a big difference, so make sure you do that to keep your body and mind in good shape.

If you had another chance at going freelance would you have done anything differently (no matter how small)?

Definitely. Often after finishing something I thought I could have made it better if I’d had more time.